Convertible garment systems, and related devices and methods

Abstract

Convertible garment systems and related devices and methods are shown and described. In one example, a convertible garment system includes a bathing suit and a pair of detachable-strap-interfaces, each configured to removably connect to the bathing suit's lower straps, and removably connect to the bathing suit's upper straps, thereby creating a second configuration for the pair of upper straps. In another example, a device includes at least one detachable-strap-interface for converting a bathing suit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A convertible garment system adapted for a wearer, the system comprising:
 a garment configured to be worn on an upper torso area of the wearer having a pair of upper shoulder straps connected to the garment and extendable upwardly for connecting the upper shoulder straps to one another adaptively to be behind a neck of the wearer in a first configuration, 
 a pair of lower back straps connected to the garment and extendable laterally for connecting at a position adaptively below the neck and behind a back of the wearer; and 
 at least one detachable strap interface for creating a second configuration, wherein the pair of upper shoulder straps are unconnected from each other so that each of the upper shoulder straps can be removably attached to the pair of lower back straps at a position below the neck and behind the back of the wearer in the second configuration, the second configuration reducing load bearing and acute pressure on the neck of the wearer created by the pair of upper shoulder straps in the first configuration, 
 the at least one detachable strap interface comprising: 
 a base plate for receiving one of the pair of upper shoulder straps and one of the pair of lower back straps of the convertible garment system, the base plate including: 
 a buckle-end defining an upper aperture and a lower aperture, the upper and lower apertures separated by an upper arm and framed on each side by side arms, wherein the upper aperture is configured to receive said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment adaptively from one shoulder of the wearer, a lower arm situated below the lower aperture and between the side arms; and 
 a channel-portion defining a finger extending from at least one of the side arms, an open aperture separating the finger from the lower arm, 
 wherein the open aperture is configured to receive said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment from the upper aperture and the lower aperture is configured to receive said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment from the open aperture; 
 a channel arm including: 
 a channel shelf, and 
 a channel aperture within the channel shelf and shaped to accept the finger of the channel-portion, and 
 wherein the channel arm mates with the base plate by an interface between the finger and the channel aperture when the channel aperture receives the finger of the channel-portion, 
 the channel arm having a length that extends above the lower arm of the buckle end towards the lower aperture when the channel arm is mated with the base plate in order to create a channel passageway for securing said one of the lower back straps, the channel passageway being formed above the channel shelf and between the channel arm and the lower arm; 
 the channel shelf capable of applying upward pressure to said one of the lower back straps when said one of the lower back straps is received within the channel passageway. 
 
     
     
       2. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 1  including a face plate. 
     
     
       3. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 2  wherein the face plate includes at least one projection for securing the face plate to the base plate. 
     
     
       4. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 3  wherein the at least one projection mates with at least one of the side arms to secure the face plate to the base plate. 
     
     
       5. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 1  wherein the upper arm and the lower arm are parallel with each other between the side arms. 
     
     
       6. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 5  wherein the finger projects horizontally between the side arms. 
     
     
       7. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 6  wherein the finger includes non-parallel upper and lower sides. 
     
     
       8. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 6  wherein the finger is partially rounded on at least one side. 
     
     
       9. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 1  wherein the finger includes a recess. 
     
     
       10. The at least one detachable strap interface of  claim 9  further including an internal projection inside of the channel aperture, wherein the internal projection aligns with the recess when the finger and channel aperture are interfaced. 
     
     
       11. A method of enabling a convertible garment system, the method comprising:
 obtaining a garment configured to be worn on an upper torso area of a wearer having a pair of upper shoulder straps connected to the garment and extending upwardly for connecting the upper shoulder straps to one another adaptively to be behind a neck of the wearer in a first configuration, 
 a pair of lower back straps connected to the garment and extending laterally for connecting at a position adaptively below the neck and behind a back of the wearer; 
 converting the garment from the first configuration with the pair of upper shoulder straps securing to each other behind the wearer's neck to a second configuration wherein each of the upper shoulder straps unconnect from each other to extend across the wearer's shoulders to secure to at least one detachable-strap-interface and to the pair of lower back straps at a position below the neck and behind the back of the wearer, the second configuration reducing load bearing and acute pressure on the neck of the wearer created by the pair of upper shoulder straps in the first configuration, 
 the at least one detachable-strap-interface in the second configuration comprising: 
 a base plate receiving one of the pair of upper shoulder straps and one of the pair of lower back straps of the convertible garment system, the base plate including: 
 a buckle-end defining an upper aperture and a lower aperture, the upper and lower apertures separated by an upper arm and framed on each side by side arms, 
 wherein the upper aperture receiving said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment adaptively from one of the shoulders of the wearer, a lower arm situated below the lower aperture and between the side arms; and 
 a channel-portion defining a finger extending from at least one of the side arms, an open aperture separating the finger from the lower arm, 
 wherein the open aperture receiving said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment from the upper aperture and the lower aperture receiving said one of the pair of upper shoulder straps of the garment from the open aperture; 
 a channel arm including: 
 a channel shelf, and 
 a channel aperture within the channel shelf shaped to accept the finger of the channel-portion, and 
 wherein the channel arm mating with the base plate by an interface between the finger and the channel aperture by the channel aperture receiving the finger of the channel-portion, 
 the channel arm having a length extending above the lower arm of the buckle end towards the lower aperture upon the channel arm mating with the base plate creating a channel passageway for securing said one of the lower back straps, the channel passageway forming above the channel shelf and between the channel arm and the lower arm; 
 receiving said one of the lower back straps between the channel arm and the lower arm through the channel passageway, 
 the channel shelf capable of applying upward pressure to said one of the lower back straps via the channel passageway. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  including locking the channel arm in place by interfacing a projection inside the channel aperture with a recess on the finger. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  including attaching a face plate to the base plate. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  including aligning one of the side arms of the base plate with a set of projections extending from the face plate.